Saints remember...
As witnesses for Christ...we should never give up on the souls of anyone, regardless of their sinful condition. Our love for humanity should never cease to reach out to the salvation of others. May God's love and mercy prevail in a cold dark world... through all members of His Glorius body.
James 5:19-20...Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Doubt vs. Faith (concerning the will of man)
In relation to Original Sin and it’s affects on humanity a comparison between doubt and faith reveals many facts concerning the will of man. The will of man is a part of man that chooses and decides. Doubt is a negative part of the will that can hinder continuity with a life in Christ. Faith is a positive part of the will that enables continuity with a life in Christ. Doubt unlike faith is one the least spoken subjects in the Bible yet one of the greatest hindrances to receiving Christ. Why? Both doubt and faith are acts of the human will.
· Doubt is an uncertain contempt of the human will and can reject the truth concerning Christ
· Faith is a consent of the human will and will accept the truth concerning Christ
The entire Bible points to the fact that man is a fallen being. His inclination willfully rejects truth as men even rejected Christ as the Messiah. Christ Himself stated, “That men loved darkness and hated light”. As God in the flesh He knew the condition of mans heart. Peter stated, “That in the last days men would be scoffers and willingly ignorant”. Scoffers are willfully in contempt to the law of God. They naturally reject truth and are uncertain about promises concerning Christ.
· 2 Peter 3:3-5…Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant
Other inclinations that stem from the will of a natural man are self interest, personal position, and rebellion. All these come from the negative side of what man is.
The Holy Spirit came to deal with this negative side of life. The Spirit convinces the world of sin and unrighteousness. The truth of the word of God and the Holy Spirit both affect the will of man enough to help him change his mind. Truth reveals who Christ is, and what Christ does within the heart. The Spirits witness places a desire to do right in the soul of man. When truth is recognized it helps man to get away from what he is. This type of enlightenment sways the human will. Acceptance of Christ is mans consent when he believes.
After man believes, his communion with God produces a life of obedience. Faith enables man to make right choices and godly decisions. Faith willfully accepts the truth of the Word of God concerning Christ. Unlike doubts uncertainty, faiths consent of will becomes a conscious and obedient life in the presence of God. Faith based and built upon the Word of God gets beyond believing and grows with knowledge. A shallow knowledge of the Word of God can also mean a shallow faith. Faith becomes full assurance when experienced throughout the course of life. Doubt has no place in a man who has a full assurance of faith. Abraham was fully persuaded and staggered not at the promises of God. The will of Abraham strong in faith was in total subjection to God.
· Rom 4:20-24…He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also
· Doubt is an uncertain contempt of the human will and can reject the truth concerning Christ
· Faith is a consent of the human will and will accept the truth concerning Christ
The entire Bible points to the fact that man is a fallen being. His inclination willfully rejects truth as men even rejected Christ as the Messiah. Christ Himself stated, “That men loved darkness and hated light”. As God in the flesh He knew the condition of mans heart. Peter stated, “That in the last days men would be scoffers and willingly ignorant”. Scoffers are willfully in contempt to the law of God. They naturally reject truth and are uncertain about promises concerning Christ.
· 2 Peter 3:3-5…Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant
Other inclinations that stem from the will of a natural man are self interest, personal position, and rebellion. All these come from the negative side of what man is.
The Holy Spirit came to deal with this negative side of life. The Spirit convinces the world of sin and unrighteousness. The truth of the word of God and the Holy Spirit both affect the will of man enough to help him change his mind. Truth reveals who Christ is, and what Christ does within the heart. The Spirits witness places a desire to do right in the soul of man. When truth is recognized it helps man to get away from what he is. This type of enlightenment sways the human will. Acceptance of Christ is mans consent when he believes.
After man believes, his communion with God produces a life of obedience. Faith enables man to make right choices and godly decisions. Faith willfully accepts the truth of the Word of God concerning Christ. Unlike doubts uncertainty, faiths consent of will becomes a conscious and obedient life in the presence of God. Faith based and built upon the Word of God gets beyond believing and grows with knowledge. A shallow knowledge of the Word of God can also mean a shallow faith. Faith becomes full assurance when experienced throughout the course of life. Doubt has no place in a man who has a full assurance of faith. Abraham was fully persuaded and staggered not at the promises of God. The will of Abraham strong in faith was in total subjection to God.
· Rom 4:20-24…He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
What happens after you "trust" Christ's death alone for the forgiveness of sins?
Trust in Christ's redemptive work at the Cross of Calvary allows God to do a work in the heart and soul of any man. I place emphasis on this initial work of God's Holiness.
The Holy Spirit gives the believer (a new convert) "a God given desire" to stop practicing sin. This new desire is the "power of Salvation" that any man has by trusting Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins. After man "trust's Christ" the Holy Spirit's initial work gives the believer a clean heart and a clean slate for holy living. This simply means a pardon from God is granted in exchange for man's faith and trust alone in Christ's redemptive work on the Cross. God's pardon (Justification) grants man a righteousness that helps this believer to live right and do right for the first time in his life. The God given attitude toward sin and sinful conduct (in the life of a believer) is to forsake sin!
To stop sinning and to forsake sin needs to be taught more this day and hour. This style of living and true Christian conduct is far better than living a "wavering life" in and out of God's saving Grace. I admit that "if we sin" we do have an advocate with the Father and that advocate is Christ. I also admit that any Christian can fall into sin...but the Bible teaches greater is He that is in me than he that it is in the world. Yes, the power of Christ is greater than the power of sin! The power of Christ teaches man "not" to sin. The power of the Holy Spirit takes people away from being a bunch of "religious sinners" or "part time" Christian's. The power of the Holy Spirit leads man to "victory" over sin.
There is no victory in sinning religion. There is no peace in wavering faith.
There is no contentment in sinful conduct. The only way any soul can be satisfied completely in this life...is by trusting Christ's redemptive work at the cross at Calvary alone for the forgiveness of sins. The holy heart and the holy life will find contentment. That contentment cannot be found through any other source in life...outside of the Christ I write about! Glory to Christ I serve! Glory to the God of my Salvation! Glory to the source of my holiness and righteousness in the eyes of God!
Eph 1:13... In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Obey from the heart
Rom 6:17-18...But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
First note they "were" (past tense) servants of sin
Second note they "obeyed" God (present tense)
Third note they were "made free"
Forth note they "became" servants of righteousness
A little Biblical food for thought this Labor Day weekend...Enjoy it in Christ! Get back to the truth of the Bible! Sound Doctrine is the true Gospel Message that brings the lifechanging...Grace of God!
I love you all! God Bless from the Churches on Trial!
First note they "were" (past tense) servants of sin
Second note they "obeyed" God (present tense)
Third note they were "made free"
Forth note they "became" servants of righteousness
A little Biblical food for thought this Labor Day weekend...Enjoy it in Christ! Get back to the truth of the Bible! Sound Doctrine is the true Gospel Message that brings the lifechanging...Grace of God!
I love you all! God Bless from the Churches on Trial!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Christians are "partakers" of the Holy Ghost
Did you know Christians are "Partakers of the Holy Ghost?" Yes, Christians taste the heavenly gift of right-standing with God. Christians are given a new nature that's clean and moral. To partake in the Holy Ghost means God puts something within the heart of man that has an experience with Christ. That something is holiness of character that comes from the power of God's Divine Grace. Yes, God puts within man a holiness of heart and conduct that fallen man cannot produce without trust in the redemptive work of Christ. That holiness of character is the outflow of Calvary in the heart and life of a believer in Christ. Men are enlightened to Christ when they hear the truth of the Gospel message.
Heb 6:4-5...For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Men and women who believe and trust in the person of Christ "partake" in a holy nature produced by the Divine Grace of God.
2 Peter 1:4...that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
That's why the Bible calls Christians, "Holy Brethren and partakers of the heavenly call".
Heb 3:1...Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
The holy heart is received when man finds forgiveness for his sins through the death of a Saviour on the cross. The holy heart shows man's recognition and subjection to the authority of a living Christ in the Throneroom. The holy heart is a God given nature that far outweighs the sinful nature of man because the power of God is behind it. Christ is behind the divine nature as He regenerates the soul and gives man the God given power to do right. That God given power to do right by far outweighs the power to do wrong because Christ's holiness is behind it! Behind fallen man is a sinful nature that man inherited from the fall of Adam. Behind a saved man is the power of God that created the world, Promised a Saviour, the raised Christ from the dead! Yes, God given holiness of heart from the new nature is far greater than the unholy nature of fallen man. The Holy Spirit says so and so does the Bible!
1 John 4:4..."greater" is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
This writer advocates enlightenment to Christ by the preaching of the Gospel according to the Prophets! This writer advocates holiness and purity of heart in a religious world that does not believe Christians can live without sin! God honors heart purity and right living! Many people do not realize that Christ can provide man with enough power from salvation to live holy and right in the eyes of God. Christ is behind the clean heart! Christ is behind holy living! The Spirit of God that we partake in teaches holy living! The Bible teaches holy living! So does this writer! That's the purpose of this Blog!
God bless you all! I love you!
To partake...
1 : to take part in or experience something
2 : to have a portion
3 : to possess or share a certain nature or attribute
Heb 6:4-5...For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Men and women who believe and trust in the person of Christ "partake" in a holy nature produced by the Divine Grace of God.
2 Peter 1:4...that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
That's why the Bible calls Christians, "Holy Brethren and partakers of the heavenly call".
Heb 3:1...Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
The holy heart is received when man finds forgiveness for his sins through the death of a Saviour on the cross. The holy heart shows man's recognition and subjection to the authority of a living Christ in the Throneroom. The holy heart is a God given nature that far outweighs the sinful nature of man because the power of God is behind it. Christ is behind the divine nature as He regenerates the soul and gives man the God given power to do right. That God given power to do right by far outweighs the power to do wrong because Christ's holiness is behind it! Behind fallen man is a sinful nature that man inherited from the fall of Adam. Behind a saved man is the power of God that created the world, Promised a Saviour, the raised Christ from the dead! Yes, God given holiness of heart from the new nature is far greater than the unholy nature of fallen man. The Holy Spirit says so and so does the Bible!
1 John 4:4..."greater" is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
This writer advocates enlightenment to Christ by the preaching of the Gospel according to the Prophets! This writer advocates holiness and purity of heart in a religious world that does not believe Christians can live without sin! God honors heart purity and right living! Many people do not realize that Christ can provide man with enough power from salvation to live holy and right in the eyes of God. Christ is behind the clean heart! Christ is behind holy living! The Spirit of God that we partake in teaches holy living! The Bible teaches holy living! So does this writer! That's the purpose of this Blog!
God bless you all! I love you!
To partake...
1 : to take part in or experience something
2 : to have a portion
3 : to possess or share a certain nature or attribute
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The power of the Gospel message "calls" a lost world to Christ
Yesterday's Blog dealt with the Holy Spirit testifying or making Christ known to the heart of man. Today's Blog deals with how the Holy Spirit ministers to a lost world.
Christ left us with a command to preach the Gospel. The reason for preaching is God's means of reaching a "lost world" with the power of Salvation of the human soul. I speak of power that gets men to Heaven! The Bible teaches that lost men (the unsaved world) are called by the truth of the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit works (ministers) to the heart of man through the power of the Gospel message. The Gospel message calls lost men to repentance and sways them to a belief in the truth. Faith and salvation comes by hearing the Word of Truth. The Holy Spirit reaches the heart of man when the person of Christ is preached. What this writer is saying is, "There is power in preaching because a living Christ is behind the true Gospel message". Christ changes things Brother! He delivers men from sin and drug addictions! He cures the sick! He restores the heart and soul to a right and moral make-up in the eyes of God! He gives life! He makes men holy! He cleanses the heart and soul from the sin nature and sinful conduct.
Preaching goes into the ears and into mental process of man. This allows God to reach the hearts of fallen men through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is how Christ is made known to the human soul. This is why there is power in preaching. This is why Christ commanded us to preach the Gospel in "all" the world.
This type of teaching gets beyond human intellect! It leaves out human reasoning! It takes out mans intelligence by pointing all men and every walk of life to a simplicity that's only found in the person of Christ. This simplicity is the peace that passes all human understanding. This simplicity is a righteousness that's only found in a living Christ and not produced by man himself. This simplicity is a holiness of character that's only produced by God's Grace in the human soul. Man's brain, man's intelligence, man's social status, and man's eloquence of speech has nothing to do with...the simplicity of Christ that's found when Salvation or Sanctification from God is experienced.
The power of the Gospel gets men away from themselves and points them to Christ . The power of the Gospel calls lost men to a place to find out the truth about Christ's death burial and resurrection. The power of the Gospel allows God to minister His Spirit to the hearts of lost men and women. The power of the Gospel teaches the saint. The Gospel is God's way of bringing fallen man to a right standing with God. The Gospel teaches men the truth about Christ and what Christ is able to do within the human soul. The Gospel allows the Holy Spirit to make Christ known to all who listen. This is the other Comforter that Christ spoke of in Saint John. Christ said He would send another Comforter...thus declaring He was a comforter himself.
That's why I preach for Christ and write this Blog! I realize there's power in preaching the Gospel! The power I speak of is Christ who bled and died for this writer. The power I speak of is Christ, who bled and died to restore this writers marriage. The power I speak of is Christ, who rose and is exalted to give this writer revelation of who He is and what He does from the Throneroom. Yes, the Christ I serve is the one who gave understanding to this writer concerning the truth of His Word. He taught me the Word of God. He gives me the messages to preach. He "confirms" the Bible with the blessing of His Holy Spirit in this writers life.
Mark 16:20...And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Christ left us with a command to preach the Gospel. The reason for preaching is God's means of reaching a "lost world" with the power of Salvation of the human soul. I speak of power that gets men to Heaven! The Bible teaches that lost men (the unsaved world) are called by the truth of the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit works (ministers) to the heart of man through the power of the Gospel message. The Gospel message calls lost men to repentance and sways them to a belief in the truth. Faith and salvation comes by hearing the Word of Truth. The Holy Spirit reaches the heart of man when the person of Christ is preached. What this writer is saying is, "There is power in preaching because a living Christ is behind the true Gospel message". Christ changes things Brother! He delivers men from sin and drug addictions! He cures the sick! He restores the heart and soul to a right and moral make-up in the eyes of God! He gives life! He makes men holy! He cleanses the heart and soul from the sin nature and sinful conduct.
Preaching goes into the ears and into mental process of man. This allows God to reach the hearts of fallen men through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is how Christ is made known to the human soul. This is why there is power in preaching. This is why Christ commanded us to preach the Gospel in "all" the world.
This type of teaching gets beyond human intellect! It leaves out human reasoning! It takes out mans intelligence by pointing all men and every walk of life to a simplicity that's only found in the person of Christ. This simplicity is the peace that passes all human understanding. This simplicity is a righteousness that's only found in a living Christ and not produced by man himself. This simplicity is a holiness of character that's only produced by God's Grace in the human soul. Man's brain, man's intelligence, man's social status, and man's eloquence of speech has nothing to do with...the simplicity of Christ that's found when Salvation or Sanctification from God is experienced.
The power of the Gospel gets men away from themselves and points them to Christ . The power of the Gospel calls lost men to a place to find out the truth about Christ's death burial and resurrection. The power of the Gospel allows God to minister His Spirit to the hearts of lost men and women. The power of the Gospel teaches the saint. The Gospel is God's way of bringing fallen man to a right standing with God. The Gospel teaches men the truth about Christ and what Christ is able to do within the human soul. The Gospel allows the Holy Spirit to make Christ known to all who listen. This is the other Comforter that Christ spoke of in Saint John. Christ said He would send another Comforter...thus declaring He was a comforter himself.
That's why I preach for Christ and write this Blog! I realize there's power in preaching the Gospel! The power I speak of is Christ who bled and died for this writer. The power I speak of is Christ, who bled and died to restore this writers marriage. The power I speak of is Christ, who rose and is exalted to give this writer revelation of who He is and what He does from the Throneroom. Yes, the Christ I serve is the one who gave understanding to this writer concerning the truth of His Word. He taught me the Word of God. He gives me the messages to preach. He "confirms" the Bible with the blessing of His Holy Spirit in this writers life.
Mark 16:20...And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Did you know the Holy Spirit "testifies" Christ to the human soul?
Examine the following words of Christ closely...
John 15:26-27... But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall "testify of me": And ye also shall bear witness
A sinner comes to know Christ through hearing the Word of God. The Spirit of Truth ministers Christ to the soul and shows sinful man what he really is. The Spirit's convicting power leads sinful man to an acceptance of the Saviour. This "work of the Holy Spirit" that sways fallen man...deals with the negative side of man that naturally rejects the truth about Christ. Without this work of the Holy Spirit (testifying truth to the heart of fallen man) man can never see his need for the redemptive work of Christ at Calvary. The Holy Spirit is the Comforting work that Christ spoke of that would make universal contact with the heart of man. The Comforter testifies Christ's person and presence to the human soul. The Comforter's omnipresence or universal contact with the heart of man is a blessing that came with the Grace dispensation we now live under in this present Church Age. I'm glad the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the human soul. I'm glad the Holy Spirit makes Christ known to humanity.
John 15:26-27... But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall "testify of me": And ye also shall bear witness
A sinner comes to know Christ through hearing the Word of God. The Spirit of Truth ministers Christ to the soul and shows sinful man what he really is. The Spirit's convicting power leads sinful man to an acceptance of the Saviour. This "work of the Holy Spirit" that sways fallen man...deals with the negative side of man that naturally rejects the truth about Christ. Without this work of the Holy Spirit (testifying truth to the heart of fallen man) man can never see his need for the redemptive work of Christ at Calvary. The Holy Spirit is the Comforting work that Christ spoke of that would make universal contact with the heart of man. The Comforter testifies Christ's person and presence to the human soul. The Comforter's omnipresence or universal contact with the heart of man is a blessing that came with the Grace dispensation we now live under in this present Church Age. I'm glad the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the human soul. I'm glad the Holy Spirit makes Christ known to humanity.
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